CBC Reporter, Host Marguerite McDonald Passes Away At 73

August 25, 2015 at 4:12 AM (PT)

MARGUERITE MCDONALD, the longtime CBC reporter and host, died MONDAY morning (8/24) of cancer in OTTAWA at 73, the CBC reports.

MCDONALD was the first female national TV news reporter for the CBC and was the first host of the radio network's political affairs show "THE HOUSE" as well as the host of religion show "OPEN HOUSE."

She started her career at the CBC in CALGARY after being a nun and high school teacher for 12 years, moving from news anchoring to co-hosting "CALGARY EYEOPENER." She launched "THE HOUSE" in 1977 and was named Social Affairs Correspondent for the TV news operation in 1983. She hosted "OPEN HOUSE" from 1990 through her 1996 retirement.